Reflector



7 Dec. 8, 1942.

M. J. ZIMMER I 2,304,433

REFLECTOR Filed Aug. 21, 1940 "Fig.2;

MYRON I ZIMMER INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

j thereto.

Patented Dec. 8, 1942 4 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE REFLECTOR -Myron J. Zimmer, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Edward Katzinger Company, Chicago, 111., a orporation of Illinois Ll Application August 21, 1940, Serial No. 353,486

2 Claims. (01. 240-401;)

This invention relates to the manufacture of reflectors and more particularly reflectors of the type adapted for use in connection with flashlights and the like comprising a pressed sheet metal reflector body portionhaving an initially separate extension or neck portion secured It is an object of the present invention to secure the reflector body portion and neckportion, each tothe other, in such a manner as td keep the working face of the reflector free of joints or seams and thereby obtain uniform light reflecting surface throughout the full area of the reflectorface.

With the above and other objects in View, as

will be apparent, this invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described,

claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a central vertical section through a reflector constructed in accordance with the presprojection behind the lamp was reduced.

In addition, the seam or joint so created on the face of the reflector furnished a trap for dirt and particles of reflectorpolishing compound and the like and the dirt so lodged in the joint caused a dark ring to be imposed on the lighted surface produced during operation of the light.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l0 designates a reflector of the conventional semispherical or parabolic shape, of pressed sheet metal construction, having an initially separate extension or neck portion II, also preferably of pressed sheet metal construction, projecting rear-- wardly therefrom and communicating with an opening l2 in the base of the reflector to provide a passageway for a lamp l3.

In the manufacture of a.two-piece reflector and neck structure in accordance with the present invention, the material of the reflector H1 adjacent its opening 12, isformed to create a rearwardly projecting hollow shank portion l5. The neck portion ll, shown in the drawing, is

. particularly adapted for use in connection with fpre-focused type lamps, such as shown in Fig. 4 is a detail view of i a locking device for holding the lamp in operative relation to the reflector construction contemplated by this invention.

Flashlight reflectors, particularly the type now in use in connection with prefocused lamps employing a reference collar or flange adjacent one-piece reflector and neck unit, in View of the.

limited price range prevailing in merchandise of this character, has made it desirable to provide a reflector construction consisting of. a

pressed sheet metal reflector body portion having an initially separate pressed sheet metal extension or neck portion secured thereto. In the two-piece constructions, however, it has been usual to clinch the forward end of the neck portion forwardly through the opening in the reflector to effect a rigid connection of these parts.

As a result, the clinched through neck portion overlapped and covered up a portion of the reflector face whereby the available field of light Fig. 3, having a plain cylindrical baseportion I6, abulb'portion I1, and a reference collar or flange l8 at the inner end of the bulb portion [1 for quick positioning of the filament of the lamp in proper focus with the reflector. To this end, the

" neck II is preferably of a diameter at its rear or free end to permit the collar iii to havea loose fit therewith so as not to hinder .quick and easy insertion of the lamp therethrough preparatory to seating the lamp in operative position relative to the reflector. The forward portion of the neck H is constricted so as to define an internal shoulder l9 adapted to serve as a bearing coacting with the edge of the lamp collar iii to maintain the lamp in coaxial relation with the axis of the neck H and reflector I II. The extreme forward end of the neck II is provided with an inwardly directed flange or lip 20,

the opening defined by said lip 20 being slightly larger than the bulb ll of the lamp I3 and preferably smaller than the diameter of the lamp collar l8.

To complete the assembly of the neck II and reflector ID, the flange or lip 20 of the neck II is placed on the shank l5 of the reflector 10, after which pressure .is applied to the parts so assembled as to bend the marginal portion of the shank l5 radially outwardly to grip the flange or lip 20 of the neck ll between the bent portion of the shank and the base of the reflector.

By so disposing the joint or seam between the neck H and the reflector ID in a position remote from the reflecting face of the latter, the said face of the reflector is smooth and unbroken by any seams or crevices in which dirt or the like might otherwise become pocketed, and the full axial distance of the reflector face, extending from the extreme edge of the opening I2 to the front edge of the reflector body [0, is available for uniform light projection.

In providing means for retaining the collar l8 of the lamp against the seat at the inner end of.

the neck II it is preferred to employ a'tubul'ar plug 2| having an end portion adapted tto flt within and have threaded engagement with said ing inwardly from said end portion of the plug 2| is engageable with the rearward surface of the collar l8 of the lamp to presssaidcollar against the seat at the inner end of the neck II, and the length of the plug is such that it"provides a guard or fender device within which'the full :lengthfof' the portion of the lamp rearward of the collar I8 is adapted to be confined when thecollar is thus engaged by the flange" 20. In the form t of the plug shown in the drawing itwill also .beobserved that it affords exposure of the rear terminal of theilamp' for direct contact with the central :terminal of a battery. Knurling, or the like, may be applied to the rearward end of the pluggas at 23', to facilitate turning the plug'into A and out of engagement with the neck II.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the'construction and assembly of reflector and neck portion; as illustrated, but it is desired mechanical to be understood that various changes to which the construction and assembly is susceptible may be: made without departing from the invention sought to be covered hereby.

What is claimed is: l.In a' flashlight, -a'- reflector formed of sheet metaland having a central "opening with the material of the reflector adjacent its opening formed torcreate a rearwardly projecting tubularshank,

I a separate sheet metaltubular neck having an "inwardly directed flange at one end thereof 'adapted to encircle said reflector shank and to be clinched between the body of the reflector and the'portion of the reflector shank disposed" inwardly-of said flange'to create a seatfor the flange of a pre fo'cus typelamp, threads formed on vthe internal'surface of said tubular neck, a

"plug is in engagement with the flange on the and id plug being open at its rearward neck ll. As shown in Fig. 1, a flange2 ll'p1'oject *l5' end to afford exposure of the rear terminal of thelamp for direct contact with the central terminal of a battery.

" 2.'In' .a flashlight, a reflector formed of sheet F :metalfiandhaving a central opening with the material of the reflector adjacent its opening formed tocreate a rearwardly projecting tubular shank, aseparate sheet' metal tubular neck having an inwardly directed flange at one end thereof adapted to encircle said reflector shank and to be clinchedbetween the body of the reflector and I onthe internal surface of said tubular neck, a

the portion'of the reflector shank disposed inwardly of said flange to create a seat for. the flange of a pre-focus type lamp, threads formed tubular plug having an end portion adapted to be arranged within'and to have threadedengagementwith said neck and an opposed enlarged end portion provided with a knurled surface to facilitate rotation of the plug toward and away from engaged relation to said neck, a; flange projecting inwardly from said end portion of the L plugadapted tobe arranged within the neck -.-aforesaid--which flange is engageable with the *rearward surface of the flange of the lamp to press -said flange of the lamp against said seat upon such interengagement of the plug and said -neck, said end portions of the plug combining ..-to "forman enclosure of sufficient length that the 't-fulhlength'of the portion of. the lamp rearward of the flange carried thereby is adapted to be confined therein when said flange on the plug is engaged with the flange on the lamp, and an I opening at: the rear limits 'of the plug through which the rear terminal of the lamp is. exposed for directcontact with the central electrode of a battery.

MYRON J. ZIMMER. 

